3/25 @ Oakland Athletics...in Japan

[yeszir]

I love the concept of walking Ortiz to get to Manny. That never gets old.

[BoSox21]

and I love the concept of a Manny contract year

[BoSox21]

and the endless brigade of former Sox from the A's pen continues...

[BoSox21]

they intentionally walk Lowell to get to Brandon "MVP" Moss?! wow....Geren won't last very long

[riverside sluggers]

Some more 2 out magic! Manny had a down year where had collected 88 RBIs. Good start this year with 4 after one game

 

Its Papelbon time

 

EDIT: Thank god for Brown's dumbass attempt for 3rd base

[ORS]

Thank you, Emil Brown.

[soxfan17881]

I'm at work, but how can I actually work when the RED SOX are on and Paps is on the mound?

 

GO SOX!!!!

[soxfan17881]

Come on, Paps!!!

[yeszir]

s*** come on paps!

[yeszir]

Phew.

[soxfan17881]

Thank you, Jesus! (and you too, Emil!)

[riverside sluggers]

Phew! Not an easy win at all. Sox are 1-0, onto tomorrow morning's game: Rich Harden vs Jon Lester

[Bostonownsyou]

Woooooo!

[BoSox21]

out of curiosity, what was Papelbon hitting on the gun?

[SCM33]

TV gun had him at 95, Remy said it could have been more like 97 because of something having to do with the mound, or position of the gun or something like that.

 

Either way, the pop was there....just a little off.......

[BoSox21]

I guess it can be expected with it being the first game of the year on the other side of the world

[Thumper]

Well regardless of Dice-K's pitching, a win is a win.

 

Let's see what Lester can pull off tomorrow.

[Paradisecity]

Thumper- did you watch the game?

 

I did? Dice K Sucked in the 1st, was not good in the 2nd, was decent in the third, good in the 4th, and very good in the 5th.

 

All in all I would say his performance wasn't disappointing. The only downside was that it was similar to his control problems from last year.

[rician blast]

Command, Command, Command

[BoSox21]

Dice-K bent but didn't break but I was disappointed that it looked like the same Dice-K from last season. I'm expecting a significant jump in his effectiveness this season

[Cocos Disciples]

Nice...I was not feeling good going into school with a 2-0 deficit and Matsuzaka reeeeeally struggling. Great games from Manny and Brandon Moss (what a f***ing animal). For those who watched the game, did Paps look good? I saw he struggled, but what did he look like? Anyways, always good to get the first one out of the way. 1-0 baby!

[MANNYHOF24]

It looks like Manny is locked in already this year which is an incredibly good sign. If he can be the Manny of old this year, the sox offense is going to be a very powerful force. I liked the way DiceK held it together this morning, however, it reminded me so much of last season when this happened all the time. I hope he can start to find some consistency early in games and avoid the one bad inning that plauged him so badly last year.

[MANNYHOF24]

Is everyone else excited to watch Lester pitch? The reports I read had him pitching like the front end starter he was suppose to be. I am excited.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

It looks like Manny is locked in already this year which is an incredibly good sign. If he can be the Manny of old this year' date=' the sox offense is going to be a very powerful force. I liked the way DiceK held it together this morning, however, it reminded me so much of last season when this happened all the time. I hope he can start to find some consistency early in games and avoid the one bad inning that plauged him so badly last year.[/quote']

 

I agree with you on Dice...

 

His first 2 innings or so SUCKED...but he wasn't really helped out by the A's at all. Meaning, he didn't end up getting out of those innings with limited damage due to them swinging at bad pitches or running themselves out or anything. Dice buckled down, held it together, and made the pitches that he had to make to get out of danger. Last year, that two run inning could have been a five run inning, easily. That's a very good sign.

[Cocos Disciples]

Is everyone else excited to watch Lester pitch? The reports I read had him pitching like the front end starter he was suppose to be. I am excited.

 

Very. It's kind of surprising, with all he's been through, that he hasn't pitched a full season yet. Just 144 1/3 IP through 2 years.

[TheKilo]

Keep in mind it's still March and in normal seasons DiceK would be having this outing in Ft. Myers.

 

Pleased with the way he rebounded.

[scaffolds]

Did anyone like Francona's move to bring Snyder in after taking a 3-2 lead?

 

Snyder should never pitch with the Sox leading in the second half of a game.

[a700hitter]

Is everyone else excited to watch Lester pitch? The reports I read had him pitching like the front end starter he was suppose to be. I am excited.

He is still not commanding the zone like he should. He is still throwing too many pitches.

[jacksonianmarch]

DiceK started this yr like he finished last yr. Erratic. When he is locating, he has some really solid stuff. But he runs so hot and cold that he can just be destroyed at times. Lucky for him the A's are loaded with young kids who'd be playing in AAA on most respectable teams. 5BB in the first 2 innings and only 2 runs?

 

Papelbon looked disinterested. He was throwing 5 mph slower than usual and he didnt have that fire you typically see out of him. Once he gets back to the states, we'll probably see same old Pap.

 

Snyder showed at the end of last yr that he doesnt belong in the bigs. He's proving it once again.

 

And Manny looks like Manny again. s***.

[MANNYHOF24]

He is still not commanding the zone like he should. He is still throwing too many pitches.

 

I heard after the first outting his comand was much better. I'm not really sure but I think thats what it was.